David h



D. H. WOOD.

Insect- Destroyer.

, Patgnte'd Mar. 29, 1864.

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QWZJ W NFEYERS. FNOTO LITHOGRAPNE R, WASHINGTON- D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. l/VOOD, OF SANDUSKY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR DESTROYlNG VERMIN AilD INSECTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,135, dated March 29, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, D. H. WOOD, of Sandusky, in the county of Oattaraugus and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Vermin and Insect Destroyer and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification. Y

The drawing is a side elevation of my invention, the dotted lines G representing a metallic tube that may be substituted for the flexible hose F.

My invention relates to the employment of a jet or jets of steam or other compressed vapor, which may be produced by a steamgenerating apparatus of very simple construc tion, and heated by an ordinary alcohol-lamp, for the purpose of destroying cockroaches, bedbugs, or any other obnoxious vermin or insects by simply applying the jet to the holes and crevices infested by them. This process is simple, cheap, and perfectly cleanly, and avoids entirely the uncertain results attending the use of poisonous powders and compounds, besides the danger arising from their use.

To enable others to work my invention, I- will describe the mechanical apparatus by which it is applied. 7

The boiler or generatingchamber A is mounted upon suitable supports, B, connected to the pan or base 0, in which is placed the heater J, which consists simply of an ordinary alcohol or other heating lamp. The chamber A, containing the water to be converted into steam, is provided with aminiature dome, D, into which the threaded collar E of the exhaust-pipe P is screwed. The top of this pipe may have a screw-thread cut upon it, or be otherwise serrated or roughened so as to hold the flexible tube or hose F, which latter terminates in a very small metallic tip, a, and may be of any desired length. If necessary the pipe P may be provided with a stop-cock at the point a. A metallic conductor, similar to that shown by the dotted lines G, may be found more desirable than the flexible hose F. The tank or chamber Ais supplied with water through the dome D by removing the screwcap or collar E, and what, water may be left after using the apparatus may be emptied through that opening or through the pipe P by removing the hose.

When the metallic pipe Gr is used, the apparatus is carried in the hand and the tip 0 applied to any cracks or crevices which it is desirous to renovate, the same as the other tip 0. would be.

The objectin having the fixed tip 0 brought so near the base or bottom is that the steam may be made to permeate crevices near the floor, or even in it, without tipping the instrument.

The generator should not be allowed to boil dry, and clean water should always be used, that no particles of dirt or sediment may be driven into the tip and choke it up, which, however, would not produce an explosion when the flexibe tube is used, for it would be forced off from the pipe P. Such accidents can also be avoided if they are liable to occur when the metallic pipe G is used by means of an extra opening in the top of the chamber, closed by a cork, which would fly out when the steam rises above a certain pressure.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

is L

The combination and arrangement of the steam-chamber A, heater J, and pipe Gr, when the parts are constructed as shown and de scribed, and for the purposes set forth.

1). H. WOOD.

Witnesses I WM. S, LOUGHBOROUGH, Asa H. BILLINGS. 

